Hilo Man Arrested for Stealing Multiple Vehicles

The Hawaiʻi Island Police Department has charged a 19-year-old Hilo man in connection with multiple offenses stemming from a series of stolen vehicles.

Giankarlo Ruben Padilla. HPD photo.

On Tuesday evening, Aug. 21, at 7 p.m., after conferring with prosecutors, police charged Giankarlo Ruben Padilla with three counts of first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, (U.E.M.V) and six counts of unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle (U.C.P.V).

On Monday, Aug. 20, at 6:45 a.m., South Hilo patrol officers responded to a report of a stolen vehicle seen in the area of Kekuanaoa and Kilauea Avenue in Hilo. Responding officers located the vehicle parked at a nearby residence and encountered a male party running from the vehicle. After a brief foot pursuit, Padilla was arrested and was held in the police cellblock while police continued the investigation.

Following up on witness and recovering video surveillance, police were able to link Padilla to three vehicle break in’s occurring the week prior and six vehicles that were reported stolen between February and August of this year.

Padilla is being held in lieu of $18,000 bail pending his initial court appearance in South Hilo District Court scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 29.

Anyone who may have any information about these incidents is asked to call Officer Debney Jaramillo at (808) 961-2213 or the police department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311.

This information was provided by the authorities. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.